Ontario’s housing minister has acknowledged that the province is not meeting its target for new homes, describing the situation as “a major crisis” across Canada.
Current Housing Goals
The Ford government set a goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031, which requires an average of 150,000 new housing starts each year. However, Ontario has not come close to achieving this target.
Funding Initiatives
To encourage cities to meet their housing targets, the province established a funding pot worth $1.2 billion over three years. This funding is awarded annually based on cities’ success in building various types of dwellings.
- Last year, Premier Doug Ford and then-Housing Minister Steve Clark visited cities that met their annual housing goals, distributing a total of $700 million in cheques.
- One city received $350 million, while others received smaller amounts ranging from less than $100,000 to several hundred thousand dollars.
Future Expectations
Current Housing Minister Rob Flack expressed hope for progress but indicated that no further cheques are expected before the election campaign begins in June or July. The provincial election is scheduled for October 7th.
Flack stated that his department is collaborating with municipalities across Ontario to help them get back on track. However, challenges remain, including:
- High construction costs
- Labour shortages, worsened by recent floods in Quebec, which displaced thousands and forced many workers to seek employment elsewhere, including Ontario.
Municipal Achievements
Some municipalities have exceeded their targets, primarily because they were able to count:
- Long-term care beds towards overall totals
- Single-family detached houses built on residential land purchased specifically for that purpose
Recently, rules changed to allow multi-unit buildings to be counted towards these totals as well.
Legislative Efforts
Flack expressed optimism that new legislation will help address the issues hindering progress toward the ambitious targets set five years ago. He emphasized the need for collective action, stating:
“We need all hands on deck if we’re going to build enough homes fast enough.”
The Need for Affordable Housing
Flack highlighted that over one million people are currently waiting for affordable housing options in Ontario. He stressed the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, including:
- Federal, provincial, and municipal governments
- Non-profits
- Private sector developers
- Community groups
- Volunteers
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that Ontarians can afford to buy their own homes, whether they are first-time buyers or families looking to upgrade from rental units.
In conclusion, the housing crisis in Ontario requires urgent attention and a unified effort to create safe and affordable living conditions for all residents.
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